Applications for HBF's Women into Home Building programme open

Established to encourage more women into site management careers, the launch of the Home Builders Federation's (HBF) acclaimed Women into Home Building programme's fifth intake was announced on Monday.

HBF has teamed up with 10 home builders, including Bellway, Gleeson, and Lovell Homes, to provide more than 30 training, support, and work placements.

The initiative aims to address the shortage of female representation in the industry, with women constituting only 16 per cent of the current construction workforce and a mere four per cent of site managers.

Facing a severe skills shortage, the industry is keen to diversify the talent pipeline and rectify the workforce's gender imbalance.

Since last year, the programme has engaged with 238 women, successfully guided 65 through training and work placements, and helped 20 candidates secure employment in the sector.

The candidates joining the fifth cohort will attend training sessions on site management and will be matched to a local home building site.

They will complete a two-week work placement that offers hands-on experience and the chance to network with potential employers.

Neil Jefferson, chief executive at HBF, said: "The home building industry offers a variety of rewarding careers and we must continue to invest in and increase the diversity of our workforce if we are to meet the ambitious housing targets set by the government."

He added: "Having women in on-site leadership roles expands perspectives, introduces different leadership styles and boosts creativity, so we’re pleased to be working with our members once again to deliver the Women into Home Building programme.

"Our programme has been developed to increase awareness of the leadership careers available and routes to employment, whilst giving participants employer-backed knowledge and experience to kick-start their careers.”

Interested women can apply for the programme on the HBF website until 5pm on Sunday, September 22.